Two exciting new UK challenges

CHARITY challenge operator Global Adventure Challenges has launched two exciting new UK challenges, and is encouraging anyone looking to conquer an iconic UK challenge in 2019 to join them!

The Snowdon at Night and Yorkshire Three Peaks treks will see people of a range of ages and abilities come together to conquer some of the UK’s highest peaks. Whether your goal for the New Year is to build your fitness, raise funds for a cause that’s close to your heart, meet new people or just to step outside your comfort zone, taking part in a challenge is a fantastic way to achieve it!

The Snowdon at Night trek is a challenge with a twist, taking adventurers to the summit of Mount Snowdon by starlight, just in time to witness the sunrise across #Snowdonia National Park. The #Yorkshire Three Peaks trek is a classic UK challenge, taking trekkers to the summit of the Yorkshire Dales’ three highest peaks.

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Conquer Snowdon

20 miles over 1 mountain. You’ll begin your journey at sea level from within the UNESCO World Heritage listed Caernarfon Castle before climbing steadily through the beautiful landscapes of Northern Wales with some obstacles along the way. 

Once you’ve braved the elements and descended from the summit of Snowdon, you’ll then face the ‘All Out Vertical Kilometre’, a guided abseil, and a series of land and water based obstacles designed to test what strength remains.

Find out more about Man vs Mountain

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Surfs Up!

SURF Snowdonia which opened to the public in 2015 is a genuinely revolutionary outdoor adventure destination which is a showcase for the first ever publicly accessible Wavegarden®. The 300-metre surf lagoon is home to the longest man-made surfable waves on the planet. The lagoon has been built on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park, the UK’s capital of outdoor adventure, around eight miles from the sea. 

There are plenty of other activities on site from bodyboarding, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and surf kayaking. The Crash and Splash activity lagoon built on an area of water the size of two Olympic swimming pools features an obstacle course with overhangs and inflatables which will test skills, fitness and luck.

As well as water-based facilities, #Surf #Snowdonia features a whole range of attractions for those who just want to watch and not get wet. The Surf Side Café Bar complete with a 50-metre viewing gallery just metres from the water entirely glass-fronted allows visitors to enjoy food and drink whilst watching the surfing action close-up.

On-site accommodation is available in the shape of wooden camping pods which come equipped with under-floor heating and electric sockets. They are serviced by a (shared) heated shower and toilet block.

www.surfsnowdonia.co.uk

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Picture Credit: nigel@hornchurch 20624342@N00/20461539996 Ready for action via photopin.com

High and Low in Snowdonia

LANDSCAPE #artist #AnthonyGarratt has completed work on ‘High and Low’, an outdoor painting installation in #Snowdonia, North Wales. The installation evokes a narrative about the history, geography, and industrial heritage of North Wales. It features two giant canvases, both of which were painted by the artist in situ. 

The first canvas floats on a vessel on a lake next to an abandoned copper mine on the flanks of Snowdon. It is a double-sided canvas and reveals itself to the viewer according to the direction of the prevailing wind. A second canvas hangs beneath a mountain in a disused slate cavern at Llechwedd, near Blaenau Ffestiniog. It’s in an underground chamber where men and boys toiled for 12 hours a day, six days a week, in semi-darkness.

The Welsh slate industry – which hit its production peak in the late 19th century – changed the landscape of North Wales and shaped the nature of its communities for generations.

The installation has been brought to Snowdonia by Bun Matthews, a local businesswoman who is passionate about landscape painting. Bun is owner of www.menaiholidays.co.uk. She hopes the installation will encourage visitors to make a deeper connection with the region's dramatic landscape and the forces that have shaped it.

The installation will be in place until November 2016.

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Zip along in Wales

NEW in North Wales is Zip World, which claims to have the planet’s largest fully- underground zip line course and its biggest subterranean adventure playground.

In Blaenau Ffestiniog, Snowdonia, Zip World has a slate cavern – big enough to house 75 double-decker buses – in which visitors can take a journey through historic mine chambers.

Zip World Caverns takes daring adventurers on a number of thrilling zip lines interspersed with rope bridges, balance beams, tunnels, and stretches of via ferrata – an Italian term literally translated as 'iron road' designed to assist soldiers crossing mountain passes.

Zip World Titan (left) gives visitors the chance to fly over five miles of wire in teams of four, reaching up to 70mph through some of Britain’s most dramatic scenery.

Check Zip World’s website – www.zipworld.co.uk – for weight, height, and age limits.




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Picture Credit: www.zipworld.co.uk

Art on Anglesey

AN art installation was created on the island of Anglesey this spring, in what will be a unique outdoor art event. 

British landscape artist Anthony Garratt created Four on Anglesey in the space of a week, painting in situ at outdoor locations – north, south, east, and west – on the island. 

The paintings take in iconic views of Caernarfon, Snowdonia, the Great Orme, the Lleyn Peninsula, and the Irish Sea.

He produced four acrylic and oil canvases which were hoisted on bespoke steel structures to be viewed and enjoyed in the very spot where they were painted.

While they are designed to withstand the inevitable rigours of storms and weathering, the paintings will change in character as the light and weather changes around them.

Anglesey resident Bun Matthews, owner of Menai Holiday Cottages, commissioned the project for the island. She says she hopes Four on Anglesey will encourage visitors and the island's residents to pause and be inspired by the 'double take' on the view. She said:

‘We wanted a unique way to celebrate – and share - the beauty and exuberance of the landscapes of Anglesey and North Wales. 

 One of the striking things about Anglesey is the incredible backdrop you get from all four corners of the island. Whether you're looking out east across the Menai Strait to the mountains of Snowdonia or west out to the crashing waves of the Irish Sea, these are landscapes that are packed full of energy and emotion. Anthony will be painting at four spectacular locations and we hope that his work will provide an enjoyable and thought-provoking experience for walkers and visitors.’

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Picture Credit: Courtesy menaiholidays.co.uk/fouronanglesey

Snowdonia highlights

A REGION in North Wales with a national park of 823 square miles, Snowdonia is known for its breathtaking views, rocky terrains, seascapes, and hidden valleys. 

These are some of the delights on offer: 

Explore an old quarry, try your hand at canoeing, or discover the magic of Coed Dinorwig at Padarn Country Park. This attraction offers everything from steam trains to scuba diving. www.visitsnowdonia.info/padarn_country_park-108.aspx

Running for more than seven miles from Cardigan Bay through the mountains of the Southern Snowdonia National Park, Talyllyn is the world's first preserved railway. 

Explore the steam heritage and the inspiration behind the stories of Thomas the Tank Engine while soaking up the classic rural landscape. www.talyllyn.co.uk

Ride the waves at the National White Water Centre. Take on the waves and try your hand at white water rafting at The National White Water Centre on the wild River Tryweryn. www.ukrafting.co.uk

At Llechwedd, Zip World will give you the chance to race down a series of three wires, totalling more than five miles of zip line and reaching up to 70mph. Unique to Llechwedd, the area combines adrenaline-inducing action with fascinating culture and Snowdonia mountain views. www.zipworld.co.uk

Ride a state-of-the-art RIB along the Menai Strait and across to Anglesey with pick-up points at Caernarfon, Menai Bridge, Beaumaris, and Holyhead. The boats are quiet but powerful … expect to hit speeds of 50mph. www.ribride.co.uk

Journey to the rooftop of Wales on the Snowdon Mountain Railway, which winds 3,560 feet up to the mountain top. www.snowdonrailway.co.uk

www.visitsnowdonia.info

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Picture Credit: "Llyn Padarn sunrise" by RICHARD OUTRAM from Wales (Through the trees....  Uploaded by PDTillman) via Wikimedia Commons; "Edward Thomas at Tywyn Wharf - 2005-04-29 - (Talyllyn Railway)" by © Optimist on the run, 2005 / via Wikimedia Commons

Surf Snowdonia!

SURF SNOWDONIA – scheduled to open in July – will be a water sports park in the village of Dolgarrog in the Conwy Valley, North Wales. 

It’s being billed as the world's first publicly-accessible Wavegarden artificial surfing lagoon.

It generates consistent surfing waves of heights up to 6 feet, in a 980ft lagoon, and is said to be safe for both beginners and experienced surfers.

www.surfsnowdonia.co.uk

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Picture Credit: Courtesy surfsnowdonia.co.uk

Snowdonia high points …

A REGION in North Wales with a national park of 823 square miles, Snowdonia is best known for its breathtaking views, rocky terrains, stunning seascapes and hidden valleys. But beyond the spectacular mountains and beaches, Snowdonia offers visitors the chance to explore the mysterious heritage of the surrounding towns, the history behind the Welsh landscape and the hidden gems to be found in-between.

Scramble up Nantlle Ridge for breathtaking views: Discover the challenge of mountainous hill walking with fewer crowds on the Nantlle Ridge, a small range of mountains which runs south-west from the village of Rhyd Ddu and ends above Nebo in the Nantlle Valley. You'll have some of the oldest, toughest Welsh rocks beneath your feet, and spectacular views. 

Get tongue-tied at Nant Gwrtheyrn Language Centre:  The Welsh language is part of the fabric of life in Snowdonia.

Take a dive into Fairbourne's secret Blue Pool: Set inside a cavern entered via a short, dark tunnel, the deep blue waters of Fairbourne's Blue Pool will refresh you. 

The hidden beaches of the Llyn Peninsula: Snowdon's ‘arm' is a beautiful peninsula, and a fantastic blend of culture and heritage. With stunning cliffs, bays and beaches, it is little wonder that the coast is a protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

Ride the world's first preserved railway: Running for more than seven miles from Cardigan Bay through the green mountains of the southern Snowdonia National Park, Talyllyn is the world's first preserved railway. 

Stumble across the mysterious Bardsey Island: Also known as the 'legendary island of 20,000 saints', Bardsey lies off the Llyn Peninsula and has been an important religious site since a monastery was built there in AD516. The island is famous for its scenery and wildlife.

Soak up the beauty of Plas Brondanw Gardens: The Brondanw Estate lies in the Snowdonia National Park, between Snowdon and the sea, and the gardens – along with the Portmeirion estate – are considered to be Sir Clough Williams-Ellis’s most marvellous creation.

Drink in the exotic plant life of Parc Glynllifon: Once described as Wales' best kept secret, Parc Glynllifon offers 70 acres of exotic trees and plants, which were imported and planted more than 150 years ago.  

Test your tyres on Penmachno Mountain Bike Trails: The trails are split into two loops, which can be ridden individually or as one amazing 18.5 mile ride. 

www.visitsnowdonia.info

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Picture Credit: From Top - Afon Colwyn ger Beddgelert/River Colwyn near Beddgelert by Rhion Pritchard via Wikimedia Commons; Snowdon Mountain Railway No.2 climbing towards Halfway Station by A.M.Hurrell via Wikimedia Commons; Plas Brondanw Orangery by Gareth Hughes via Wikimedia Commons